Building organization to support SPR994 in Phase 3 and beyond, and robust pipeline

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., April 12, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Spero Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq:SPRO), a multi-asset clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on identifying, developing and commercializing novel treatments for multidrug-resistant bacterial infections, today announced the appointment of Ian A. Critchley, Ph.D. as Head of Clinical Microbiology to lead Spero’s pre-clinical and clinical microbiology efforts. Dr. Critchley brings over 30 years of experience in anti-infective drug discovery and development to Spero.

“I am pleased that Ian is joining Spero to provide leadership and expertise on microbiology for the Company,” said Ankit Mahadevia, M.D., Chief Executive Officer of Spero Therapeutics. “Ian’s hiring is part of our strategic plan to build the organization needed to support SPR994 in our planned Phase 3 pivotal trial and beyond, as well as to run a robust clinical portfolio. He will play an integral part in helping us achieve our mission of bringing novel therapies to market that address the growing threat of multidrug-resistant bacteria.”

Prior to joining Spero Therapeutics, Dr. Critchley served as Vice President of Clinical Microbiology at Allergan plc since 2015, where he managed pre-clinical and clinical microbiology studies on anti-infective compounds including Teflaro®, Avycaz®, and Dalvance®. Prior to Allergan plc, Dr. Critchley served six years at Cerexa, Inc., a subsidiary of Forest Laboratories, Inc., as the Vice President of Clinical Microbiology overseeing microbiology studies for its anti-bacterial programs. Prior to Cerexa, Inc., Dr. Critchley served as the Executive Director of Microbiology at Replidyne, Inc. for six years and held earlier positions at Focus Technologies, Inc. and SmithKline Beecham plc. He received his Ph.D. in Microbiology from the University of Glasgow in Scotland.

Spero is advancing SPR994, a carbapenem-class antibiotic, which is designed to be the first broad-spectrum oral antibiotic for use in adults to treat MDR Gram-negative infections.

Spero is also advancing its Potentiator Platform, which it believes will enable the development of drugs that will expand the spectrum and potency of existing antibiotics, including formerly inactive antibiotics, against Gram-negative bacteria. The product candidates are two IV-administered agents, SPR741 and SPR206, designed to treat MDR Gram-negative infections in the hospital setting.

Spero is also advancing SPR720, its novel oral therapy product candidate designed for the treatment of pulmonary non-tuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) infection, an orphan infectious disease.

This press release may contain forward-looking statements. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements about the initiation, timing, progress and results of the Company’s preclinical studies and clinical trials and the Company’s research and development programs, the timing of clinical data, the Company’s cash forecast and anticipated expenses and the sufficiency of the Company’s cash resources. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by terms such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “expect,” “plan,” “aim,” “anticipate,” “could,” “intent,” “target,” “project,” “contemplate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential” or “continue” or the negative of these terms or other similar expressions. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including whether results obtained in preclinical studies and clinical trials will be indicative of results obtained in future clinical trials; whether the Company’s product candidates will advance through the preclinical development and clinical trial process on a timely basis, or at all; whether the results of such trials will warrant submission for approval from the United States Food and Drug Administration or equivalent foreign regulatory agencies; whether the Company’s cash resources will be sufficient to fund its continuing operations for the periods and/or trials anticipated; and other factors discussed in the “Risk Factors” section of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 2, 2018, and risks described in other filings the Company may make with the Securities and Exchange Commission in the future. The forward-looking statements included in this press release represent the Company’s views as of the date of this press release. The Company anticipates that subsequent events and developments will cause its views to change. However, while the Company may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, it specifically disclaims any obligation to do so. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing the Company’s views as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release.

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